Automatic gas ignition and control.



L. G. BARTLETT. AUTOMATIC GAS IGNITION AND CONTROL. APPLICATION FILED m11, 1909.

953,985. Patented Apr.5, 1910.

UNITED sTA rEs PATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS G. BARTLETT. OF SOMERVILLE. MASSACHUSETTS. ASSIGNOR TOAUTO-LIGHTER & EQUIPMENT COMPANY. OF BOSTON. MASSACHUSETTS. ACORPORATION OF MASSA- CHUSETTS.

AUTOMATIC GAS IGNITION AND CONTROL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 11. 1909.

Patented Apr. 5, .1910.

Serial No. 495,328.

To all whom. it may concern:

Be it known that. I. Lorrs G. BARTLETT, ot Somerville. 1n the county ofMiddlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Automatic (his Ignition and Control, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in automatic gas ignition andcontrol and is es 'ieciallv adapted for controlling and igniting the gasin the search lights of an automobile directly from the seat.

The object of this device is to provide a controller which is adapted toturn on and ott" the gas, and to ignite the same at the burner orburners simultaneously when the controller is turned on. Thisarrangement prevents the liability of an ex )losion in the lamps owingto the fact that the ignition or electric spark is thrown into operationpie vious to admitting the flow of gas to the burner or burners so thatthe gas is ignited immediately it reaches the burner or burners.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate a construction embodyingmy invention, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view showing the acetyleneheadlights connected with the usual charged gas tankand a controller orignition mechanism interposed tion with the electric circuit closed andthe lights.

ports in position to admit gas to the burners. Fig 4 is a top plan viewshowing the main portion of the controller with the handle in initialposition for closing the electric circuit. Fig. 5 is a sectional viewthrough the valve showing the relative position of the gas ports withthe controller in the posi- 15, nut 16 and gas tank located on therunning board or step 2 and secured thereon by straps I}.

4 and 5 represent the usual head lights carrying the burners 6 and Tthereilrrespectively. and connected with the gas tank 1 through branchtubes 8 and 9 and the main conduit 10. The. usual needle valve 11 islocated on the tank and has a handle 12 to turn on or otl" the gas.

13 is a controller mounted on the dash board it and secured thereon bythe washer )late 57. v

17 is a gas iniet port and ]8.is a gas outlet port. The main conduit 10is comprised preferably of a piece of suitable copper tubing, one endconnected with the valve ll by suitable union 1!), and the other endbeing connected with the union 2() on the controller 13. The outlet port18 is connected with the remainder'ot' the main conduit 10 leading tothe branches 8 and J. Mounted in the casing of the controller 153 is ataper valve 21 held firmly seated b the helical spring 22. Ports 23-424connected by port 25 are located in the valve 21 and adapted to be movedinto comnumication with the gas inlet 17 and gas outlet 18 when thevalve 21 is in acertain positioncthereby permitting the flow of gasfromthe tank through the. main conduit- 10, inletv 17, ports 23, 25 and24 through outlet port 18 and into the main conduit 10 thence throughbranches 89 to burners 6-7.

26 is a handle mounted on the' pivot 27 in the slot 28 in the upperpart. of the taper valve 21 to cause the operation of said valve.

29'is a latch located on the lower part of the handle 26 and adapted toengage the notches 30-31 to lock the valve in open or closed position.

32 1s a spring mounted in a slot in the handle 26 and in the tapervalvev 21 adapted to apply upward pressure to the inner end of handle 26to hold the latch 29 within the notches 30--31. The contact 33 mountedon the, face plate 57' and'insulated therefrom by the insulating bushing34 and wooden dashboard 14 and secured in posit on by nuts ,35, isconnected by wire A with the primary winding of an ordinary inductioncoil X havingthe' usual interrupter or v1- brator Y located in theprimary circuit of the-same. The opposite end of the primary winding ofthe coil X is connected with one pole of the battery Z while theopposite pole -of said battery Z is grounded on the copper automobile.

The contact 33 carries the recess 36 111 which is mounted the ball 37held outwardly against the contracted opening in the recess by means ofa cup 38 and spring 35) forming a yielding rolling contact. The handle26 carries the segmental arm 40 adapted to engage with the; ball contact37 intermediate the open and closed positions of the valve 21 therebyclosing the primary circuit through the coil X and securing a jump sparkat each of the burners 6.-7. The cup 38 between the ball 37 andthespring 39 prevents the ball from wedging into the open end of thespring forming an unreliable contact.

Each burner comprises a lava tip 58 with the usual gas vents therein anda metal stem 49 securing the same to the lamp.

41, 42 are metal clamps adapted to be mounted over the stem of theburner and also over the insulated support 43 holding same in suitableposition.

44 is an electrode molded in the support 43 and flattened at 45 and 45to prevent the same from turning therein. The lower end of electrode 44is threaded and the nuts 46 are mounted thereon forming a binding postfor either of the secondary wires C and E as the case may be. The rib 59on the insulating support 43 is adapted to be mounted between the twocorresponding outer ends of the clamps 41, 42 to position and preventthe same from turning therein. It is found to be essential that theterminal electrodes shall be in and maintain an exact alinement with thegas vent, so that the spark will be projected through the path of theescaping gas to ignite the same, as otherwise, if the electrodes weredisplaced from their maintained osition, the gas would accumulate in theamps and an explosion would subsequently take place. The

electrode 47 is flattened at its lower end at 53 and is grounded on andpositionally mounted in the flat recess 54 in the clamp 42 whichprevents the electrode from turning. 48 is a screw for securing theclamps 41, 42 firmly around the burner itself and insulating support 43.

The arrangement illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 is not claimed inthisapplication but is claimed in my applications Ser. Nos. 427,997 and519,344 filed respective v ;Apr. 20, 1908 and Sept. 24, 1909.

Threaded in port 25 is a needlv val-@2550 adapted to be operated by thethumb nut 51 to restrict or enlarge the passage port 25 and reduce orincreasdthe volume of gas flowing through the outlet 18 to the burn erswhen the valve 21 is turned on.

52 is a packing nut threaded into the lower end of the valve 21 andadapted to hold the packing 55 tightly around the valve stem 50 toprevent leakage.

is ahelical spring mounted over the lower end of the valve 21 andbetween washer 5t; resting against controller 13, and packing nut and isadapted to hold the valve :21. on its seat.

The operation is as follows: The handle 26 is lifted from the notch 31against the tension of the spring 32 andis thrown from the off positionshown in Fig. 1 to the intermediate position shown in Fig. 3 caus ingthe ports 2324 to be connected through port 25, so that the gas may bepermitted to flow to the burners 67. At the. same time the segmental arm40 engages the ball contact 37 making the circuit through the coil X andcausing a jump spark to be projected between the terminals at eachburner 6, 7. The operator now opens the valve 11 at the tank by means ofthe handle 12 when the gas may flow and be ignited by the jump spark. Ifit is desired that the lights remain burning, the handle is thrown tothe extreme open position (Fig. 2) when'same is locked in the notch 30by means of the spring This movement of the handle breaks the circuitbut without cutting off the flow of gas from the tank 1 to burners (3,7. If it is found that the gas is burning too high in the lamps, theneedle valve 50 may be operated from the seat and by means of the thumbnut 51- the volume of gas may be reduced; in case the lights dim afterusing a few hours, the thumb nut. 51 may be turned slightly opening theneedle valve 50 and allowing a greater volume of gas to flow tothelights. The lights may now be extinguished by a reverse movement ofthe handle 26 to ofi' position. It is obvious, that the gas beingproperly regulated by valve 11, the lights may be turned on or off atwill without leaving the seat of the automobile and by a single movementof. the

controller handle in each case. To obviate.

the danger of accumulation of gas in the lamps and consequent explosionby subsequent closure of the circuitv and sparkingat;

the burners,the controller is so construct ed and." arranged, that whenthe handle 26 is turned and reaches the position shown in Figs. 4 and 5,the circuit will be closed and the spark obtained at the burnersprevious to the flow of gasthrough the ports 23, 25 and 24 to the lamps.The segmental arm 40 is adapted, on continued movement of handle 26, tohold the circuit closed producing a spark at the burners during aninterval necessary for the ports 23, 24 and 25 to be thrown intocommunication and the gas to reach the burners whereby the ignition ofsame is insured. The further movement of the handle 26 to on position(Fig. 2) will break the circuit but leaves the ports 23, 25 and 24 incommunication permitting the gas to remain flowing to the lamps.

When it is desired to turn out the lights temporarily as in passingthrough villages, or to avoid frightening animals or dazzling people,the handle 26 is thrown from the position shown in Fig. 2 to that shownin Fig. 1, without leaving the seat, and at will the lights may berelighted by throwing the handle back to on position.

A saving of gas is also provided by this device in that when the car iswaiting the lights may be turned ofi'. as explained, and when the car isstarted again, the lights may be turned on without leaving the seat, andthus avoid burning the head lights all the time the car is waiting.

Having thus described the nature of my invention and set forth aconstruction embodying the same, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. In an apparatus ofthe character described, one or more burners, a gas receptacle, a gasconduit between said burner or burners and said gas receptacle, a valvelocated in said conduit for turning on or off the supply of gas to saidburner or burners, a normally open electric circuit, electrodes in saidcircuit and located at said burner or burners for the passage of a sparkand adapted to ignite the gas at said burner or burners, a switch forclosing said circuit, and co-acting mechanism for closing said switchand subsequently opening said valve and adapted to insure the passage ofa spark at said burner or burners previous to the admission of gasthereto.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, one or more burners, agas receptacle, a gas conduit between said burner or burners and saidgas receptacle, a valve located in said conduit for turning on or offthe supply of gas to said burner or burners,

a normally open electric circuit, electrodes in said circuit and locatedat said burner or burners for the passage of a spark and adapted toignite the gas at said burner or burners, a switch for closing saidcircuit, co-

acting mechanism for closingsaid switch and subsequently opening saidvalve and adapted to insure the passage of a spark at said burner orburners previous to the admission of gas thereto, and means formaintaining the closure of said circuit toinsure said spark until thegas is admitted to said burner or burners.

3. In an electrical contact, an insulated supporting member having arestricted opening, a ball contact movably mounted in and adapted toproject through said restricted-opening a spring mounted behind saidball contact, and a member interposed between said ball contact and saidspring to transmit the tension of said spring to said ball whereby saidball contact is held in position in said restricted opening andprevented from wedging into said spring.

4. In an electrical contact, an insulated supporting member having arestricted openin a ball contact movably mounted in and at apted toproject through said restricted opening, a spring mounted behind saidball contact, a member interposed be tween said ball contact and saidspring to ball whereby said ball contact is held in position in saidrestricted opening and prevented from wedging into said spring, and

means for securing said insulated supporting located in said main gasconduitfor turning on or ofi? the supply of gas to said burner orburners, a normally open electric circuit, electrodes in said circuitand located at said burner or burners for the passage of a spark andadapted to ignite the gas at said burner or burners, a switch forclosing said circuit, and co-acting mechanism carrying said switch andvalve for operating said switch to close said circuit and adapted toopen said valve to allow the gas to flow to said burner or burnerssubsequently to the closing of the circuit at the burner or burners.

6. In an apparatus of the character described, one or more burners, agas receptacle, a main gas conduit leading from said receptacle to saidburner or burners, a valve located in said main gas conduit for turningonor oif the supply of gas to said burner or burners, a norma ly openelectric circuit,

electrodes in said circuit and located at said humor or burners for thepassage of a spark and adapted to ignite the gas at said burner orburners, a switch for closing said circuit,

and a handle on which said switch is mounted for operating said switchto close said circuit and ada ted to open said valve to allow the gas toow tosaid burner or burners subsequently to the closingof the circuit atthe burner or burners.

7. In an apparatus of the character described, one or more burners, agas receptacle, a main gas conduit leading from said receptacle to saidburner or burners, a valve located in said main gas conduit for turningon or oil the supply of gas to said burner or burners, a normally' openelectric circuit. electrodes in said circuit and located at saidtransmit the tension of, said spring to said burner or burners for thepassage of a spark and adapted to ignite the gas'at said burner orburners, a switch for closing said circuit,

co-acting mechanism carrying said switchand valve for operating saidswitch to close said circuit and adapted to open said valve to allow thegas to How to said burner or burners subsequently to the closing of thecircuit at the burner or burners, and a latch device for retaining saidco-acting mechanism in the open or closed position of said valve.

'8. In an apparatus of the character described, one or more burners, agas receptacle, a main gas conduit leading from said receptacle to saidburner or burners, a valve located in said main gas conduit for turningon or oil the suppl of gas to' said burner or burners, a norma ly openelectric circuit, electrodes in said circuit and located at said burneror burners for the passage of a spark and adapted to ignite the gas atsaid burner or burners, a switch for closing said circuit, a handle onwhich said switch is mounted for operating-said switch toclose saidcircuit and ada ted to open said valve to allow the gas to ow to saidburner or burners subsequently to the closing of the circuit at theburner or burners, and a latch device for retaining said handle in theopen or closed position of said valve.

9. In an apparatus of the character described, one or more burners, agas receptacle, a main gas conduit leading from said receptacle to saidburner or burners, a valve located in said main gas conduit for turningon or oil the supply of gas tosaid burner or burners, a valve casing forsaid valve, a su port independentof the conduit for said va ve casing,meansgfor detachably securing said valve casing to said support, anormally open electric circuit, electrodes in said circuit and locatedat said burner or burners for the passage of a spark-and adapted toignite the gas at said burner or burners, a switch for closing saidcircuit, a handle on which said switch is mounted for operating saidswitch to close said circuit and adapted to open said valve to allow thegas to flow to said burner or burners subsequently to the closing of thecircuit at the burner or burners, and a latch device for retaining saidhandle in the open or closed position of said valve and located on, saidhandle and on said valve casing.

10. In an apparatus of the character described, one or more burners, agas receptacle, a gas conduit leading from said receptacle to saidburner or burners, a valve lo cated in said gas conduit'for turning onor off the gas to said burner or burners, a normally open electriccircuit including a yielding contact, electrodes in said circuit andlocated at said burner or burners for the passage of the spark andadapted to light the gas at said burner or burners, a Segmental switchfor closing said circuit, and a handle for operating said switch toclose said circuit and adapted to open said valve to allow the gas toflow to said burner or burners subsequently to the closing of thecircuit at the burner or burners.

11. In an apparatus of the character described. one or more burners, a.gas receptacle, a gas conduit leading from said receptacle to saidburner or burners, a valve located in said gas conduit for turning on oroff the gas to said burner or burners, a normally open electric circuitincluding a yielding contact, electrodes in said circuit and located atsaid burner or burners for the passage of the spark and adapted to lightthe gas at said burner or burners, a segmental switch for closing thecircuit, and a handle on which said switch and valve are. mounted foroperating said switch to close said circuit and adapted to open saidvalve to allow the gas to flow to said burner or burners subsequently tothe closing of the circuit at the burner or burners.

12. In an apparatus of the character described, one or more burners, agasreceptacle, a main gas conduit leading from said receptacle to saidburner or burners, a valve located in said main gas conduit for turningon or off the supply of gas to said-burner or burners, a normally openelectric circuit, electrodes in said "circuit and located at said burneror burners for the passage of a spark and adapted to ignite the gas'atsaid burner or burners, a switch for closing si'iid circuit, andco-acting mechanism for operating-said switch to close said circuit andfor opening 'said'val've to allow the gas to flow at the burner orburners subsequently to the dos ing of the circuit.

13. In an apparatus of the character described, one or more burners, agas receptacle, a main gas conduit leading from said receptacle to saidburner or burners, a valve located in said main gas conduit for turningon or off the supply of gas to said burner or burners, a normally openelectric circuit, electrodes in said circuit and located at said burneror burners for the passage of a spark and adapted to ignite the gas atsaid burner or burners, a switch for closing saidcircuit, and a handlefor o erating said switch to close said circuit an for openin said valveto allow the gas to flow at sai burner or burners subsequently to theclosing of the circuit.

14. In an apparatus of the character described, one or more burners,agas receptacle, a main gas conduit leading from said receptacle to saidburner or burners, a valve located in said main gas conduit for turningon or off the supply of gas to said burm-r or burners, a normally openelectric circuit, 7 electrodes in said circuit and located at saidistburner 01' burners for the passage of a spark In testimony'whereof, Ihave signed my 10 and adapted to ignite the gas at said burner i name tothis specification in the presence of 01' burners, a switch for closingsaid circuit, two subscribing witnesses, this tenth day and a handle onwhich said switch and I of May A. D. 1909.

' valve are mounted for operating said switch I LOUIS BARTLETT to closesaid circuit and for opening said valve to allow the gas to flow at theburner \V1tnesses:

or burners subsequently to the closing of A. L. MEssER,

the circuit. W H. \VINDE.

